Shotokan Karate Do Association of Tripura

Karate body levels

Karate Terminology



The Japanese terms are used in all Karate dojos all over the world. Here are the meanings of the common terms:



DAN: Black-belt grades.

DOJO: word used for the place of practice of martial arts.

GI (gee): The Karate uniform. In Shotokan Karate a white, cotton gi is worn.

HIKI-TE (hee-kee-tay): The retracting arm of a punching, blocking, or striking technique. Helps rotate the hips and maintain the stable and precise delivery of the technique.

KARATE: “Empty Hand".

KARATEKA: The practitioner of Karate.

KATA: Prescribed sequences of techniques performed with specific rhythm and timing

KI (kee): Mind. Spirit. Energy.

KIAI (kee-ai): A short, loud shout accompanying a sharp, strong technique. Helps release air from the lungs and relax the upper body so that the technique is more effective. Also helps focus mental energy and display spirit.

KIHON (kee-hon): Basic techniques.

KIME (kee-may): Focus of power.

KOHAI (ko-hai): A student junior to oneself.

KYU (kee-u): Grades 8 to 1 - all color belts. Any grade below a black belt.

OBI (o-bee): The Karate belt.

OSU (Oss): Indicates respect, acknowledgement, willingness and readiness to follow.

SEIZA: A proper sitting position used for the formal opening and closing of the class, and whenever the instructor asks students to sit on the side to watch a demonstration of techniques or kata.

SENSEI (sen-say): A teacher. A term reserved for the chief instructor of the dojo, and other high-ranking members.

SEMPAI (sem-pai): A senior student

SHIHAN (shee-han): A formal title meaning master instructor or teacher of teachers. Very few people in the world have achieved this ranking.

SHOMEN (show-men): The designated front wall of a Dojo. Often the place where the picture of our founder, Gichin Funakoshi and flags are displayed.

REI (ray): Bow. A sign of respect, trust, and appreciation. May be done while standing, or while kneeling such as at the beginning and end of each class.

Shomen-ni-Rei: bow to the front of the dojo

Sensei-ni-Rei: bow to the teacher

Otagai-ni-Rei: bow to each other

VARIOUS COMMANDS:

YAME (ya-may): Return to starting position (typically hachiji-dachi)

HAJIME (hajee-may): Begin

KAMAE: Get into position, prepare.

MOKUSO: Close the eyes and meditate.

MATTE (ma-tay): Wait.

MAWATE (mawa-tay): Turn into position

YOI (yoh-ee): Ready (both mentally and physically)

YAME (ya-may): Stop

COUNTING in Japanese:

One: ichi (i-chi)
Two: ni (ni)
Three: san (sa-n)
Four: shi (shi) / yon (yon)
Five: go (go)
Six: roku (ro-ku)
Seven: shichi (shi-chi)
Eight: hachi (ha-chi)
Nine: ku (ku)
Ten: ju (ju-u)

WAZA (Techniques):

Tsuki (tsu-kee) or zuki (zoo-kee): punching

Uke (ou-kay): blocking

Uchi (oo-chee): strike

Keri (ke-ree) or geri (ge-ree): kicking

TARGET AREAS on opponent's body:

Jodan (joh-dan): upper level, includes face, neck, and head area

Chudan (choo-dan): middle level, includes the chest, side chest and back area

Gedan (gay-dan): lower level, the lower trunk area

HIDARI: left

MIGI: right

GYAKU: reverse

AKA: red

SHIRO: white

YOKO: Side.

MAE: front

ZENSHIN: Forward.

USHIRO: back

KEKOMI: thrust

KEAGE: snap

BODY PARTS:

EMPI (em-pee): elbow

HIZA (hee-zah): knee

KAISHO (kay-sho): open hand, such as in shuto-uke

KENTSUI (ken-tschuee): hammer fist (also known as TETTSUI)

SOKUTO (sokoo-toh): edge of foot, such as in side thrust kick

URAKEN (oo-raken): back of fist

SHUTO (shoo-to): outer surface of hand alongside the small finger

HAITO (haee-to): inner surface of hand alongside the thumb

PUNCHES:

JODAN TSUKI: upper level punch

CHUDAN TSUKI: middle level punch

GEDAN TSUKI: lower level punch

CHOKU TSUKI: straight punch

GYAKU TSUKI: reverse punch

KAGI ZUKI: hook punch

HASAMI TSUKI: scissor punch

KIZAMI ZUKI: jab

MAWASHI ZUKI: roundhouse punch

MOROTE ZUKI: U-Punch with both fists simultaneously

TATE ZUKI: punch with fist along vertical plane

URA ZUKI: upper cut punch at close range

YAMA ZUKI: mountain Punch, a U-punch, resembles the character for mountain, thus the name.

BLOCKS:

AGE UKE (ah-gay oo-kay): rising block

UCHI UKE: inside-out block

SOTO UKE: outside block

GEDAN BARAI: lower level block

SHUTO UKE: knife hand block

MOROTE UKE: reinforced (augmented) block

JUJI UKE (joo-jee): X block

KAKIWAKE UKE: X block

MANJI UKE: double block with one arm in gedan barai and the other in uchi uke.

STRIKES:

EMPI UCHI: elbow strike

HAITO UCHI: ridge-hand strike

KENTSUI UCHI: (Or TETTSUI UCHI) hammer fist strike

MAE EMPI: forward elbow strike

MAWASHI EMPI UCHI: roundhouse (circular) elbow strike

OTOSHI EMPI UCHI: dropping elbow strike

TATE EMPI UCHI: rising elbow strike

TATE URAKEN UCHI: vertical back-fist strike

USHIRO EMPI UCHI: elbow strike aiming behind own body

YOKO MAWASHI EMPI UCHI: side elbow strike

NUKITE: stabbing using the extended index finger or both the index and the middle fingers

KICKS:

ASHI BARAI: Foot Sweep

GERI (kicks)

MAE GERI KEAGE: front snap kick

MAE GERI KEKOMI: front thrust kick.

MAE ASHI GERI: front kick with the front leg (KIZAMI GERI)

MAWASHI GERI: roundhouse kick

GYAKU MAWASHI GERI: reverse roundhouse kick

USHIRO MAWASHI GERI: inside-out roundhouse kick

HIZA GERI (hee-za): knee kick

MIKAZUKI GERI (meeka-zooki): crescent kick

TOBI GERI (to-bee): jumping kick

USHIRO GERI (oo-shee-ro): back kick

YOKO GERI KEAGE: side snap kick

YOKO GERI KEKOMI: side thrust kick

YOKO TOBI GERI: flying side kick

FUMIKOMI: stomping kick

STANCES:

DACHI (da-chee): stances

HACHIJI DACHI (ha-chee-jee): natural stance, feet about one shoulder width apart, toes pointing slightly outward

HEISOKU DACHI: informal attention stance. Feet together, toes pointing straight forward

ZENKUTSU DACHI (zen-koo-tsoo): front stance

KIBA DACHI (kee-ba): horse stance

KOKUTSU DACHI (ko-koo-tsoo): back stance

FUDO DACHI (foo-do): immovable stance, a cross between front and back stance (SOCHIN DACHI)

SANCHIN DACHI (san-cheen): hour-glass stance

HANGETSU DACHI (han-gay-tsoo): "half-moon" stance

GANKAKU DACHI (gan-ka-koo): crane stance

KOSA DACHI: crossed-leg stance

SHIKO DACHI (shee-ko): square stance

KUMITE (koumi-tay) Sparring:

GOHON KUMITE: five step basic sparring

SANBON KUMITE: three step basic sparring

IPPON KUMITE: one step basic sparring

JIYU IPPON KUMITE: one step free sparring (semi-free sparring)

JUI KUMITE: free sparing

STRATEGIES:

GO NO SEN: allow the opponent to attack first so as to open up targets for counterattack

INASU: avoid an on-coming attack by removing your body from the line of attack

SEN NO SEN: attack at the exact moment that the opponent attacks

SEN SEN NO SEN: attack before the opponent attacks

TAI SABAKI: shift to remove your body from the line of attack

Low (Level) – Gedan (sounds like Geh-dan)
Mat (Practice/Training Mat) – Tatami (sounds like Ta-ta-me)
Meditate – Mokuso
Middle (Level) – Chudan (sounds like Choo-dan)
One More Time – Mo Ichi Do (sounds like Moe E-chee Doe)
No – Iie (sounds like E-ay)
No Mind (State of “No Mind”) – Mushin
Please – Dozo (sounds like Doe-zoh)
Practitioner of Karate – Karateka
Pulling Hand (brining hand back to ready position) – Hikite
Punch – Tsuki or Zuki (sounds like Zoo-key)
Push On Through Difficulties – Oss or Osu. Nevertheless, this term used in many different ways and is often used by non-Japanese Karate students for “Thank you”, “I understand”, etc. Oss (Osu) is a kind of respectful catch-all phrase. The meaning of Oss (Osu) can vary greatly between Karate schools and styles.
Right – Migi (sounds like Mee-gee)
School (Martial Arts) – Dojo (sounds like Doe-Joe)
Senior Student – Senpai or Sempai (sounds like Sen-pie)
Shout or Yell – Kiai (sounds like Key-eye)
Side – Yoko (sounds like Yoh-koh)
Snap – Keage
Sparring – Kumite (sounds like Coo-meh-tay)
Stance – Dachi (sounds like Dah-chee)
Stop – Yame (sounds like Yah-may)
Strike – Uchi (sounds like Oo-chee)
Sweep – Barai (sounds like Baa-rye)
Teacher/Instructor – Sensei (sounds like Sen-say)
Technique – Waza (sounds like Waa-Zaa)
Thank You (Formal) – Domo Arigato (sounds like Doe-moe Ah-ree-gah-toe)
Thank You (Informal) – Domo (sounds like Doe-moe)
Throat – Nodo (sounds like No-doe)
Throw – Nage
Thrust – Kekomi
Turn Around – Mawatte (sounds like Ma-wa-tay)
Unarmed Combat – Taijutsu
Uniform – Gi (sounds like Ghee)
Upper (Level) – Jodan (sounds like Joe-dan)
Void or State of No Mind – Mushin
Yes – Hai (sounds like Hi)
You – Anata (sounds like Ah-na-ta)

Karate Terms & Commands – Japanese to English

Anata – You
Anza – Sitting position, cross legged
Ashi – Foot
Ashi-Kubi – Ankle
Atama – Head
Barai – Sweep
Bunkai – Kata Technique Application
Chudan – Middle (Level)
Dachi – Stance
Dojo – School (Karate)
Domo – Thank You (Informal)
Domo Arigato – Thank You (Formal)
Dozo – Please
Embusen or Enbusen – This is the term used to refer to the spot where a kata begins. In addition, nearly all kata start and end on exactly the same Embusen point.
Empi or Enpi – Elbow
Empi-Uchi or Enpi-Uchi – Elbow Strike
Gedan – Low (Level)
Geri or Keri – Kick
Gi – Uniform
Hai – Yes
Hajime – Begin/Start
Harau – Sweeping Techniques
Hidari – Left
Hikite – Pulling Hand (bringing hand back to ready position)
Hiza – Knee
Iie – No
Jodan – Upper (Level)
Kakato – Heel
Karateka – Practitioner of Karate
Kata – Form or Pattern
Keage – Snap
Kekomi – Thrust
Keri or Geri – Kick
Ki – Type of intrinsic energy. Known as Qi or Chi in Chinese martial arts.
Kiai – Shout
Kihon – Basic Techniques
Kime – Focus
Kiotsuke – Attention
Kokyu Ho – Breathing exercises
Kumite – Sparring
Mae – Front
Mawatte – Turn Around
Migi – Right
Mo Ichi Do – One More Time
Mokuso – Meditate
Mushin – Void or State of No Mind
Nage – Throw
Neko – Cat (i.e. Neko Ashi Dachi = Cat Foot Stance or Cat Stance)
Nodo – Throat
Obi – Belt
Oss or Osu – Push On Through Difficulties. Nevertheless, this term used in many different ways and is often used by non-Japanese Karate students for “Thank you”, “I understand”, etc. Oss (Osu) is a kind of respectful catch-all phrase. The meaning of Oss (Osu) can vary greatly between Karate schools and styles.
Rei – Bow
Sayonara – Goodbye
Senpai or Sempai – Senior Student
Sensei – Teacher/Instructor
Seiza – Kneel
Seiza Waza – Kneeling Techniques
Shuto – Knife Hand
Tatami – Practice/Training Mat
Te – Hand
Tsuki or Zuki – Punch
Uke – Block
Ushiro – Back
Watashi – I (Me)
Waza – Technique
Yame – Stop
Yoko – Side
Zuki or Tsuki – Punch

kARATE ETIQUETTE & COMMANDS
A list of karate commands and phrases used in the “Dojo” a training hall during class training sessions

ETIQUETTE & COMMANDS

DOJO: Training Hall

GI: Training Suit

KARATEKA: Student of Karate

SEMPI: Ones Senior

SENSEI: Instructor

EMBERCEN: Please line up

NORE: Prepare to bow

SEIZA: Kneel down

MOKOSO: Meditating

SENSEI NI REI: Class bows to Instructor and Instructor bows to class

OTAGAI NI RE: Class bows to the Dojo and to those assembled

KIRITSU: Stand up

YO-OI: Ready stance

HAJIME: Begin

YAMAE: Finish, return to Yo-oi

TSUKI, PUNCHING TECHIQUES

KAGIZUKI: Hook

TOBIKOMIZUKI: Lead jab

TOBIGYAKUZUKI: Reverse jab

NAGASHIZUKI: Angle, slipping jab

AGEZUKI: Upper cut

YAMAZUKI: Over head

JUNZUKI: Lunge

GYAKUZUKI: Reverse lunge

KERIWAZA KICKING TECHIQUES

MAEGERI: Front kick

USHIRO GERI: Back kick

MAWASHI GERI: Angle kick

SOTO MIKAZUKI GERI: Crescent kick

FUMIKOMI: Stamping kick

SURIKOMI GERI: Low level sweep kick

HIZA GERI: Knee strike

SOKUTO GERI: Side kick

STRIKES, PARRYS AND DEFLECTIONS

JODAN UKE: Upper strike

SOTO UKE: Outer strike

UCHI UKE: Inner strike

GEDAN UKE: Lower strike

SUKUI UKE: Scooping, deflection

OSAEUKE: Pressing

NAGASHI UKE: Slipping, brushing

KAKE UKE: Catching, grasping

MAWASHI UKE: Circular deflection

SHUTO UKE: Knife hand strike

EMPI: Elbow

ATEWAZA: Combination elbows

TATE EMPI: Vertical elbow

OTOSHI EMPI: Dropping elbow

MAWASHI EMPI: Round elbow

YOKO EMPI: Sideward elbow

USHIRO EMPI: Backward elbow

MAE EMPI: Front elbow

STRIKING AREA OF THE HAND

SEIKEN: Normal fist ¾ turn

URAKEN: Back fist

TETTSUI: Hammer fist

IPPONKEN: Forefinger fist

NAKADAKA

IPPONKEN: Middle finger fist

OYAYUBI: With thumb fist

HIRAKEN: Flat fist, use of middle joints

KOKEN: Upper part of the wrist

KEIKO: Chickens beak, tips of fingers pressed together

SHUTO: Outer knife hand

HAITO: Inner knife hand

NUKITE: Spear hand

SHOTE: Palm hand

HAISHU: Back hand

STANCES
ZENKUTSUDACHI Forward stance (used with front hand)

GYAKUZUKIDACHI Forward stance (used with back hand)

NEKOASHI HANMI: Half facing cat stance

GYAKU NEKOASHI: Reverse cat stance

SHIKO DACHI: Horse stance

SHIZENTAI: Natural relaxed stance

SANCHIN DACHI: Small circular stance

NAIFANCHI DACHI: Triangular toes on line

TATAE SEISHAN: Vertical, on line

YOKO SEISHAN: Horizontal, on line

MUSUBI DACHI: Attention, feet form v

NOTTSUKKOMI: Leaning forwards

SAGIASHI DACHI: One legged stance

KOKUTSU DACHI: Weight on the back leg

KOSADACHI: Cross leg stance

HIDARISHIZENTAI: Left natural stance

MIGISHIZENTAI: Right natural stance

HEISOKUDACHI: Closed toe stance

FUDO DACHI: Low drop stance

DIRECTIONAL

MAE: Front

USHIRO: Back

YOKO: Side

AIHANMI: Same side forward

GYAKUHANMI: Opposite side forward

SURIKOMI: Step with the back foot

TAOSHIWAZA: Take down

ASHIBARI: Foot sweeps

KUMITE: Exchange techniques

IPPONKUMITE: One step pairs work

KIHON: Basic

YAKOSUKO: Prearranged

IRIMI: Entering

KAWASHI: Avoiding

NOGARE: Escaping

TAISABAKI: Body skills

MUSHIN: Beginners mind

TEGUMI: Hand drilling

KATA: Prearranged patterns

KENSETSU: Locks

UKEMI: Break fall

TUITE: Grappling

KIMAE: Focus of technique

ATEMI: Vital point striking

KIAI: Focused of spirit, breath, technique

RENKAI: Combinations

ZANSHIN: Awareness

HEI JO SHIN: Keep your usual mind

NI SENTINASHI: There is no first attack

TAI